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The 2007 All-Japan Shakaijin tournament for clubs in the Regional Leagues and below has been won by FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu from Kansai - and as a result they will now proceed to the Regional League Championship Winners' Play-off competition at the end of next month, in order to compete fro a place in the JFL. FC Mi-o beat Tokai-based company side Yazaki Valente in the Shakaijin final in Oita on Wednesday, after having battled through an extremely tough series of matches over the last few days.

The tournament began on Saturday, Mi-o claiming a good 2-1 win over Kyushu League leaders Honda Lock while their local rivals and Kansai champions Banditonce Kobe were the victims of the shock result of the First Round, losing 4-3 to Okinawa Kariyushi. In Sunday's Second Round, V Varen Nagasaki emerged as strong candidates by squeezing past Hokushinetsu League champions Matsumoto Yamaga Club on penalties - but FC Mi-o again impressed with a victory over the best team from Kanto, FC Machida Zelvia.

Into the last eight on Monday, the eventual winners once more had just about the most difficult match on offer but nevertheless claimed a 3-1 win against New Wave Kitakyushu. Yazaki Valente kept their run going by eliminating Ain Food on penalties, while V Varen beat Kanto's YSCC and tournament surprise package Kariyushi overcame AS Laranja Kyoto.

The big match in the Semi-Finals on Tuesday, then, pitched together FC Mi-o with a V Varen team desperate to hold on to the Shakaijin crown that they won last season - not least because qualification for the Regional League Play-offs via the normal route of the league is looking beyond them. But the dreams of the Kyushu side were shattered by a single goal early in the second half, while in the other game Yazaki claimed their place in the Final thanks to another win on penalties. FC Mi-o deservedly prevailed, however, and now go on to the Regional League Play-offs for another attempt at a JFL spot.